Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and France’s ENGIE group have signed a long-term loan of up to Rs 466 crore to set up a 200-MW solar power project in Gujarat.
The project that is to be developed in the Raghanesda Solar Park, is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2021. Electro Solaire Private Limited (ESPL), a special purpose vehicle owned by the ENGIE group, will implement the project.

Notes:
The Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT) has successfully developed a “Disinfectant spray for surface application”.
The alcohol based “Disinfectant Spray” for the surface applications contains botanical anti-microbials which would prevent various diseases caused by bacteria and virus. IPFT is an autonomous Institution under the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

Notes:
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the e-foundation stone of Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex, Hiranagar in Kathua district in Jammu & Kashmir.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Union Minister of Youth and Sports, Kiren Rijiju jointly laid the e-foundation stone. The Rs 58.23 crore mega-sports complex is being undertaken under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).

Notes:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sameer Kumar Khare as new Executive Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The veteran bureaucrat has been appointed to the post for a tenure of three years. Sameer Kumar is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. He is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs under Ministry of Finance.

Notes:
China has successfully launched a solid-propellant carrier rocket from a ship in the Yellow Sea and successfully sent nine satellites into orbit.
This is the country’s second such sea-based launch mission. The tenth rocket of the Long March 11 family, the Long March 11-HY2 was launched carrying nine remote-sensing satellites belonging to the Jilin-1 Gaofen 03-1 group.

Notes:
The Horticulture Department of the Jammu and Kashmir has launched the Flagship programme ‘Backyard Horticulture’ under CAPEX scheme.
The programme aims to promote organic fruit production for home consumption. Under the programme, three fruit plants will be distributed among the farmers at 90% subsidy. It increases self-sustenance and also preserves environment.

Notes:
Senior bureaucrat Rajesh Khullar has been appointed as Executive Director of World Bank, Washington.
He is a 1988 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. He is currently serving as the Principal secretary to Haryana Chief Minister. He will have a tenure of three years at the World Bank.

Notes:
Two important bills pertaining to Ministry of AYUSH has been passed in Lok Sabha, namely the “National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill 2020” and “National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill 2020”.
The said bills have been already passed in the Rajya Sabha in March 2020. The bills seek to replace the existing “Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970” and “Homoeopathy Central Council Act 1973”.

Notes:
The Rajya Sabha has recently passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2020, which was tabled by Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri
The bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha in March this year. It seeks to convert aviation agencies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil aviation security (BCAS) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into statutory bodies. It also proposes heavy punishment for violations.

Notes:
India’s central Bank, t he Reserve Bank of India has issued draft guidelines on Interest Rate Derivatives (IDRs).
IRDs are contracts whose value is derived from one or more interest rates, prices of interest rate instruments, or interest rate indices. RBI has allowed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake exchange traded rupee IRD transactions subject to an overall ceiling of Rs.5,000 crore.